JESUS –THE CENTRALITY OF CHRISTIAN BELIEF
Christianity is a faith that calls out people who come to God through putting faith in Jesus Christ, whereby their sins are forgiven and have entrance into God’s kingdom. The scripture emphasizes the centrality of Christ Jesus in the unfolding and emerging plan of God for all things in heaven and on earth. He’s our Savior, Redeemer, Lord and king. The Scripture says, “He’s the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominion or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He’s before all things and in Him all things consist [Colossians 1:15-17]. Also the Bible declares, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…..He proposed in Himself. That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth in Him [Ephesians 1:7, 9b-10]. John R.W. Scott in Basic Christianity wrote, “The person and work of Christ are the rock upon which the Christian religion [I prefer faith] is built…….take Christ away from Christianity, and you disembowel it; there is practically nothing left. Christ is the centre of Christianity; all else is circumference.”
Jesus is the focus and the centrality of the Bible. The Old Testament prophesies speak and point to His first coming; both old and new testament point to His second coming. The synoptic Gospels contain history of His birth, His ministry, death and resurrection. The book of Isaiah prophesies of His virgin birth [Isaiah 7:14]. The Gospel of Matthew records, “Behold a virgin shall be with a child and bear a son, and they shall call His name “Immanuel” which is translated “God with us.” While the Gospel of Luke says, “And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and shall call His name Jesus. Jesus was predicted to be born in Bethlehem [Micah 5:2]. His ministry began in Galilee [Isaiah 9:1-2; Mark 1:14-15]; where He started the chief purpose of His ministry [Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19].
Jesus was not only a Savior but also a High Priest appointed by God Himself [Hebrew 5:5-6, 9-10; 7:25-26]. Because He’s a high priest for ever; He‘s able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them. He’s our High Priest who is holy, harmless and undefiled [Hebrew 7:25-26] of the good things to come and the Mediator of the New Covenant [Hebrew 9:11, 15]. He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God and from that time waiting till his enemies are made His footstool [Hebrew 10:12-13]. Jesus builds His Church and becomes the Lord of the Church [Matthew 16:18]. Jesus told His disciples that He was going to His Father to prepare a place for them [John 14:1-6]. Heaven becomes a prepared place for prepared people. Jesus is still preparing a place for believing Christians and shall return to take them home to heaven.
The resurrection of Jesus is the centrality of Christian belief. His name is Jesus because He will save His people from sin. In the course of His ministry, Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver [Zechariah 11:12-13]. He was highly persecuted and went through sufferings and agonies as well as death by crucifixion [Zachariah 12:10; Isaiah 53:5-6]. He rose from dead on the third day [Psalm 16:10]. His resurrection is the crucial evidence of His deity and God’s sent. He was seen by some of the people who persecuted and killed Him and that’s the evidence that there is hope for believing Christians to rise from death. The issue of resurrection is so fundamental to our faith that if Jesus did not rise from death, it means the whole Christian faith is fraud and we are hopeless who believe in Him. But thanks be to God for He’s risen.
The popular Encyclopedia of Biblical prophesy by Tim LaHaya and E. D. Hindson says, ‘Physical death does not end human existence. Jesus said, “Because I live, you will live also” [John 14:19]. Without a doubt, one of the most comforting and reassuring part of God’s word is the doctrine of the resurrection.’ Apostle Paul who was a great persecutor of the people of the Way met with the risen Christ on his way to Damascus and his life changed; unbelief disappeared and vanished [Acts 9]. James, the Lord’s brother who did not believe Him earlier, saw Jesus after the resurrection and could identify with his elder brother as Messiah and that quicken his belief. He went further to confess, “James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ….” [James 1:1; Galatians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:7]. Many of His disciples believed in him and died for their belief and implicit faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. The changed life of those who believe in Him in our age and time is still evidence of His resurrection. Today I invite you to meet with the risen Christ and your life shall not be the same any longer.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P. O. box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.